Childminder in St Helens

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 18 September 2015 14 December 2011

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Effectiveness of the leadership and management Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate 4

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This inspection: Inadequate 4

Personal development, behaviour and welfare Inadequate 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder has failed to complete the process so that Ofsted are provided with the details of all assistants working on the premises. She has not ensured that all assistants have completed suitability checks. In addition, the arrangements to ensure unvetted assistants do not have unsupervised contact with children are not robust.  The programme for professional development and supervision of assistants is not yet sufficiently focused on improving the quality of teaching. This results in inconsistencies in the quality of practice.  Although the childminder is well qualified, her assistants' knowledge of the prime and specific areas of learning is weak.

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It has the following strengths

 Children are happy and demonstrate a sense of belonging because positive relationships are formed with the childminder and her assistants. This helps children to feel secure and develop care and respect towards others.  The childminder provides children with various play experiences within a well-resourced environment. This helps to promote children's independence and motivation to learn.  Partnerships are established with parents and other early years providers. This helps to promote children's care and learning.

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What the setting needs to do to improve further

To meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Childcare Register the provider must:

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Due Date

 ensure that any person who has not had their suitability checked with Ofsted does not have unsupervised access to children 30/10/2015

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Due Date

 implement effective systems to ensure that any person caring for, or in regular contact with children is suitable to work with children, which must include obtaining an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check 30/10/2015

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Due Date

 improve the programmes for professional development, including the use of supervision to enable assistants to improve their personal effectiveness in teaching 30/10/2015

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Due Date

 improve the assistant's knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to improve the quality of educational programmes 30/10/2015

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Due Date

 inform Ofsted of the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of all assistants working with children. 30/10/2015

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed the quality of teaching during activities indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this has on children's learning.  The inspector carried out a joint observation with the childminder, discussed children's learning and development, and sampled children's records.  The inspector held discussions with the childminder, an assistant and children. She looked at relevant documentation, such as the self-evaluation form, and checked evidence of the suitability of all adults living and working on the premises and viewed the childminder's qualifications.  The inspector took account of the views of parents from written records and discussed procedures, including risk assessments and the safeguarding policy.

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Effectiveness of the leadership and management is inadequate

The childminder does not promote children's safety and welfare adequately. She has not given enough consideration to ensure that suitability checks have been completed for all assistants who work directly with children. Ineffective safeguarding arrangements mean that those whose suitability is not yet confirmed have unsupervised contact with children. Supervision sessions and some opportunities for professional development are undertaken. However, the childminder does not monitor the performance of the assistants well enough to ensure that the quality of teaching improves. The childminder evaluates her practice and involves her assistants in this process. For example, planning methods have changed to involve others in the process of identifying children's next steps. Children's progress is routinely monitored to identify whether further support is required.

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Quality of teaching, learning and assessment is inadequate

The childminder does not place sufficient emphasis on how well the assistants know and understand the educational programmes. The assistants have a limited understanding of how to match teaching to children's stage in learning. This means that the assistants do not recognise what the children can achieve and how to best support this. Consequently, children are not well prepared for the next stage in their learning. Despite this, the childminder supports some aspects of children's communication skills through appropriate teaching methods. Parents are encouraged to contribute to the initial assessments of their children's starting points. Various communication methods are used to keep parents informed about their children's ongoing progress. Parents share information about their children's learning and development and are encouraged to extend the learning at home.

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Personal development, behaviour and welfare are inadequate

Weaknesses in the childminder's approach to ensuring that her staff are suitable to work with children have a significant impact on children's safety, well-being and personal development. Children enjoy being physically active as they confidently move around the indoor and outdoor space, exploring resources that stimulate their interest. Children behave well and are developing an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. This is because the childminder uses appropriate language to raise children's awareness in developing their personal and social skills. Children are developing knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy. They enjoy taking part in different experiences to raise their awareness of sensory materials and living things. Children have access to different outdoor play experiences that promote physical exercise and an understanding of the wider world.

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Outcomes for children are inadequate

Monitoring arrangements of the assistants' performance is weak. This means they do not fully understand how children learn and develop and do not have high enough expectations of what children can achieve. This contributes towards children not making sufficient progress towards the early learning goals.

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Setting details

Unique reference number EY344305 Local authority St. Helens Inspection number 949237 Type of provision Childminder Day care type Childminder Registers Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Age range of children 0 - 17 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 23

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection 14 December 2011

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Telephone number

The childminder was registered in 2006 and lives in St. Helens. She operates all year round from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays and family holidays. The childminder works with three assistants at different times. The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification at level 3.

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Telephone number

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Telephone number

procedures set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk. achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

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Telephone number

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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